Summary Box: Honda profit jumps on improved sales

SHIFTING GEARS: Honda's January-March profit rose 61 percent as the Japanese automaker sold more cars and motorcycles in a turnaround from a disaster-battered 2011. It forecast record global sales of 4.3 million vehicles for this fiscal year.

MORE GOOD NEWS? The recovery tale is likely to be repeated at other Japanese automakers. Japan's No. 1 carmaker Toyota Motor Corp. reports earnings May 9. Nissan Motor Co., the nation's No. 2 automaker, reports May 11.